Profile: Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

The Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre is the largest of its kind in Europe.

It is capable of housing 900 detainees, but was not yet fully occupied after its second wing was opened on January 21. The wings house men and women, and there is also a separate family unit where babies and children are housed with their parents.

Yarl's Wood and its sister centres, at Dungavel, South Lanarkshire, and Harmondsworth, near Heathrow Airport, in west London, are the last stop before immigration officials put failed asylum-seekers on a plane home.

The majority of the inmates are asylum-seekers, but the centres also hold immigration offenders such as illegal aliens.

Experts have said the design of the Bedfordshire centre, a modern brick and glass building, is equal to that of a Category B medium security prison.

Yarl's Wood is equipped with several hundred CCTV cameras, and the five-metre (16-foot) high perimeter fence is topped with double coils of razor wire.

The atmosphere in the centre is distinctly institutional and rather austere, but the facilities are far better than those to be found in prisons.

When journalists were shown around the second wing last month, officers went to great lengths to ensure that photographers did not get a view of any inmates.

Members of staff also declined to be photographed, with some privately admitting they feared criticism in the community because they worked at the complex.

There is a curious two-handed chain of command at Yarl's Wood because Immigration Service officials are responsible for running certain aspects of the centre, while security company Group 4 is responsible for others.

Reporters found the two factions were unable to answer questions about the other's staffing levels, duties or other details.

Doors to the accommodation rooms are not normally locked, but have reinforced prison-style doors to hold the detainees in the event of a disturbance.

The corridors also feature heavy steel doors to isolate areas of the centre.

All the twin rooms have en suite facilities. Detainees are offered English language lessons and other education, plus a range of sports.

Several shops offer subsidised goods including toiletries, sweets and drinks, and detainees can buy cigarettes with the "pocket money" they receive while in the centre.

There are six choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, including options such as spinach ricotta goujons, lamb Thai red curry or Cajun chicken. Meals are prepared in kitchens approved by a local Imam.

The complex also boasts eight multi-faith prayer rooms, 10 well-equipped classrooms with dozens of computers, libraries with books in 40 languages, and several gyms with exercise equipment worth thousands of pounds.

At the opening of the centre's second wing last month, Group 4 centre manager David Watson said: "Much thought has been given to the design of the facilities while keeping those detained in a caring and secure environment."

The Home Office has not disclosed how much Group 4 is being paid to run the centre for "commercial reasons". Neither will it confirm the cost of building the massive complex - which is thought to have been about £100 million. The complex is sited on MoD land it is designated a "prohibited place" under the Official Secrets Act.

Yarl's Wood first opened its doors in November last year, with the Government trumpeting its commitment to "removals and the use of dedicated detention facilities for immigration offenders or failed asylum-seekers".

In January, the centre was holding 284 detainees. It was expected to be fully operational by Easter. Immigration minister Lord Rooker said last month: "Yarl's Wood offers decent facilities in a pleasant environment for people that it is necessary to detain."

Detainees are allowed unlimited numbers of visits from 2pm until 9pm, and there is a free bus service for visitors on the 15-minute journey from Bedford.